tales of trail and town- 第35部分

rest　of　the　afternoon　the　attention　of　a　whole　laborious　colony。



The　next　morning；　however；　brought　trouble　to　him　in　the　curiosity

of　his　sisters；　heightened　by　their　belief　that　he　could　at　any

moment　be　taken　off　to　prisonwhich　was　their　understanding　of

their　mother's　story。　　I　grieve　to　say　that　to　them　this　invested

him　with　a　certain　romantic　heroism；　from　the　gratification　of

which　the　hero　himself　was　not　exempt。　　Nevertheless；　he

successfully　evaded　their　questioning；　and　on　broader　impersonal

grounds。　　As　girls；　it　was　none　of　their　business！　　He　wasn't　a…

going　to　tell　them　HIS　secrets！　　And　what　did　they　know　about　gold；

anyway？　　They　couldn't　tell　it　from　brass！　　The　attitude　of　his

mother　was；　however；　still　perplexing。　　She　was　no　longer　actively

indignant；　but　treated　him　with　a　mysterious　reserve　that　was　the

more　appalling。　　The　fact　was　that　she　no　longer　believed　in　his

theft；indeed；　she　had　never　seriously　accepted　it；but　his

strange　reticence　and　secretiveness　piqued　her　curiosity；　and　even

made　her　a　little　afraid　of　him。　　The　capacity　for　keeping　a　secret

she　believed　was　manlike；　and　reminded　herfor　no　reason　in　the

worldof　Jim　Medliker；　her　husband；　whom　she　feared。　　Well；　she

would　let　them　fight　it　out　between　them。　　More　than　that；　she　was

finally　obliged　to　sink　her　reserve　in　employing　him　in　the

necessary　〃chores〃　for　the　house；　and　he　was　sent　on　an　errand　to

the　country　store　at　the　cross…roads。　　But　he　first　extracted　his

gold…flake　from　the　wall；　and　put　it　in　his　pocket。



On　arriving　at　the　store；　it　was　plain　even　to　his　boyish

perceptions　that　the　minister　had　circulated　his　miserable　story。

Two　or　three　of　the　customers　spoke　to　each　other　in　a　whisper；　and

looked　at　him。　　More　than　that；　when　he　began　his　homeward　journey

he　saw　that　two　of　the　loungers　were　evidently　following　him。　　Half

in　timidity　and　half　in　boyish　mischief　he　once　or　twice　strayed

from　the　direct　road；　and　snatched　a　fearful　joy　in　observing　their

equal　divergence。　　As　he　passed　Mr。　Staples's　house　he　saw　that

reverend　gentleman　sneak　out　of　his　back　gate；　and；　without　seeing

the　two　others；　join　in　the　inquisitorial　procession。　　But　the

events　of　the　past　day　had　had　their　quickening　effect　upon

Johnny's　intellect。　　A　brilliantly　wicked　thought　struck　him。　　As

he　was　passing　a　perfectly　bare　spot　on　the　road　he　managed；

without　being　noticed；　to　cast　his　glittering　flake　of　gold　on　the

sterile　ground　at　the　other　side　of　the　road；　where　the　minister's

path　would　lie。　　Then；　at　a　point　where　the　road　turned；　he

concealed　himself　in　the　brush。　　The　Reverend　Mr。　Staples　hurried

forward　as　he　lost　sight　of　the　boy　in　the　sweep　of　the　road；　but

halted　suddenly。　　Johnny's　heart　leaped。　　The　minister　looked

around　him；　stooped；　picked　up　the　piece　of　gold；　thrust　it

hurriedly　in　his　waistcoat　pocket；　and　continued　his　way。　　When　he

reached　the　turn　of　the　road；　before　passing　it；　he　availed　himself

of　his　solitude　to　pause　and　again　examine　the　treasure；　and　again

return　it　to　his　pocket。　　But；　to　Johnny's　surprise；　he　here　turned

back；　walked　quickly　to　the　spot　where　he　had　found　it；　carefully

examined　the　locality；　kicking　the　loose　soil　and　stones　around

with　his　feet　until　he　had　apparently　satisfied　himself　that　there

was　no　more；　and　no　gold…bearing　indications　in　the　soil。　　At　this

moment；　however；　the　two　other　inquisitors　came　in　sight；　and　Mr。

Staples　turned　quickly　and　hurried　on。　　Before　he　had　passed　the

brush　where　Johnny　was　concealed；　the　two　men　overtook　him　and

exchanged　greetings。　　They　both　spoke　of　〃Johnny〃　and　his　crime；　of

having　followed　him　with　a　view　of　finding　out　where　he　went　to

procure　his　gold；　and　of　his　having　again　evaded　them。　　Mr。　Staples

agreed　with　their　purpose；　but；　to　Johnny's　intense　astonishment；

SAID　NOTHING　ABOUT　HIS　OWN　FIND！　　When　they　had　passed　on；　the　boy

slipped　from　his　place　of　concealment　and　followed　them　at　a

distance　until　his　own　house　came　in　view。　　Here　the　two　men

diverged；　but　the　minister　continued　on　towards　the　other　〃store〃

and　post…office　on　the　main　road。



He　would　have　told　his　mother　what　he　had　seen；　and　his　surprise

that　the　minister　had　not　spoken　of　finding　the　gold　to　the　other

men；　but　he　was　checked；　first　by　his　mother's　attitude　towards

him；　which　was　clearly　the　same　as　the　minister's；　and；　second；　by

the　knowledge　that　she　would　have　condemned　his　dropping　the　gold

in　the　minister's　path；though　he　knew　not　WHY；or　asked　his

reason　for　it；　which　he　was　equally　sure　he　could　not　formulate；

though　he　also　knew　not　why。　　But　that　evening；　as　he　was　returning

from　the　spring　with　water；　he　heard　the　minister's　voice　in　the

kitchen。　　It　had　been　a　day　of　surprises　and　revelations　to　Johnny；

but　the　climax　seemed　to　be　reached　as　he　entered　the　room；　and　he

now　stood　transfixed　and　open…mouthed　as　he　heard　Mr。　Staples　say：



〃It's　all　very　well；　Sister　Medliker；　to　comfort　your　heart　with

vain　hopes　and　delusions。　　A　mother's　leanin's　is　the　soul's

deceivin's；and　yer　leanin'　on　a　broken　reed。　　If　the　boy　truly

found　that　gold　he'd　have　come　to　ye　and　said：　'Behold；　mother；　I

have　found　gold　in　the　highways　and　byways；　rejoice　and　be

exceedin'　glad！'　and　hev　poured　it　inter　yer　lap。　　Yes；〃　continued

Mr。　Staples　aggressively　to　the　boy；　as　he　saw　him　stagger　back

with　his　pail　in　hand；　〃yes；　sir；　THAT　would　have　been　the　course

of　a　Christian　child！〃



For　a　moment　Johnny　felt　the　blood　boiling　in　his　ears；　and　a

thousand　words　seemed　crowding　in　his　throat。　　〃Then〃he　gasped

and　choked。　　〃Then〃he　began　again；　and　stopped　with　the

suffocation　of　indignation。



But　Mr。　Staples　saw　in　his　agitation　only　an　awakened　conscience；

and；　nudging　Mrs。　Medliker；　leaned　eagerly　forward　for　a　reply。

〃Then；〃　he　repeated；　with　suave　encouragement；　〃go　on；　Johnny！

Speak　it　out！〃



〃Then；〃　said　Johnny；　in　a　high；　shrill　falsetto　that　startled　them；

〃then　wot　for　did　YOU　pick　up　that　piece　o'　gold　in　the　road　this

arternoon；　and　say　nothin'　of　it　to　the　men　who　followed　ye？　　Ye

did；　I　seed　yer！　　And　ye　didn't　say　nothin'　of　it　to　anybody；　and

ye　ain't　sayin'　nothin'　of　it　now　ter　maw！　and　ye've　got　it　in　yer

vest！　　And　it's　mine；　and　I　dropped　it！　　Gimme　it。〃



Astonishment；　confusion；　and　rage　swelled　and　empurpled　Staples'

face。　　It　was　HIS　turn　to　gasp　for　breath。　　Yet　in　the　same　moment

he　made　an　angry　dash　at　the　boy。　　But　Mrs。　Medliker　interfered。

This　was　an　entirely　new　feature　in　the　case。　　Great　is　the　power

of　gold。　　A　single　glance　at　the　minister's　confusion　had　convinced

her　that　Johnny's　accusation　was　true；　and　it　was　Johnny's　MONEY

constructively　HERSthat　the　minister　was　concealing。　　His　mere

possession　of　that　gold　had　more　effect　in　straightening　out　her

loose　logic　than　any　sense　of　hypocrisy。



〃You　leave　the　boy　be；　Brother　Staples；〃　said　Mrs。　Medliker

sharply。　　〃I　reckon　wot's　his　is　hisn；　spite　of　whar　he　got　it。〃



Mr。　Staples　saw　his　mistake；　and　smiled　painfully　as　he　fumbled　in

his　waistcoat　pocket。　　〃I　believe　I　DID　pick　up　something；〃　he

said；　〃that　may　or　may　not　have　been　gold；　but　I　have　dropped　it

again　or　thrown　it　away；　and　really　it　is　of　little　concern　in　our

moral　lesson。　　For　we　have　only　HIS　word　that　it　was　really　his！

How　do　we　KNOW　it？〃



〃Cos　it　has　my　marks　on　it；〃　said　Johnny　quickly；　〃it　had　a　criss…

cross　I　scratched　on　it。　　I　kin　tell　it　good　enuf。〃



Mr。　Staples　turned　suddenly　pale　and　rose。　　〃Of　course；〃　he　said　to

Mrs。　Medliker　with　painful　dignity；　〃if　you　set　so　much　value　upon

a　mere　worldly　trifle；　I　will　endeavor　to　find　it。　　It　may　be　in　my

other　pocket。〃　　He　backed　out　of　the　door　in　his　usual　fashion；　but

instantly　went　over　to　the　post…office；　where；　as　he　afterwards

alleged；　he　had　changed　the　ore　for　coin　in　a　moment　of　inadvertence。

But　Johnny's　hieroglyphics　were　found　on　it；　and　in　some　mysterious

way　the　story　got　about。　　It　had　two　effects　that　Johnny　did　not

dream　of。　　It　had　forced　his　mother　into　an　attitude　of　complicity

with　him；　it　had　raised　up　for　him　a　single　friend。　Jake　Stielitzer；

quartz　miner；　had　declared　that　Burnt　Spring　was　〃playing　it　low

down〃　on　Johnny！　　That　if　they　really　believed　that　the　boy　took

gold　from　their　sluice　boxes；　it　was　their　duty　to　watch　their

CLAIMS　and　not　the　boy。　　That　it　was　only　their　excuse　for

〃snooping〃　after　him；　and　they　only　wanted　to　find　his　〃strike；〃

which　was　as　much　his　as　their　claims　were　their　own！　　All　this　with

great　proficiency　of　epithet；　but　also　a　still　more　recognized

proficiency　with　the　revolver；　which　made　the　former　respected。



〃That's　the　real　nigger　in　the　fence；　Johnny；〃　said　Jake；　twirling

his　huge　mustache；　〃and　they　only　want　to　know　where　your　lead　is；

and　don't　yer　tell　'em！　　Let　'em　bile　over　with　waitin'　first；　and

that'll　put　the　fire　out。　　Does　yer　pop　know？〃



〃No；〃　said　Johnny。



〃Nor　yer　mar？〃



〃No。〃



Jake　whistled。　　〃Then　it's　only　YOU；　yourself？〃



Johnny　nodded　violently；　and　his　brown　eyes　glistened。



〃It's　a　heap　of　information　to　be　packed　away　in　a　chap　of　your

size；　Johnny。　　Makes　you　feel　kinder　crowded　inside；　eh？　　MUST　keep

it　to　yourself；　eh？〃



〃Have　to；〃　said　Johnny　with　a　gasp　that　was　a　little　like　a　sigh。



It　caused　Jake　to　look　at　him　attentively。　　〃See　here；　Johnny；〃　he

said；　〃now　ef　ye　wanted　to　tell　somebody　about　it；somebody　as　was

a　friend　of　yours；ME；　f'r　instance？〃



Johnny　slowly　withdrew　the　freckled；　warty　little　hand　that　had

been　resting　confidingly　in　Jake's　and　gently　sidled　away　from　him。

Jake　burst　into　a　loud　laugh。



〃All　right；　Johnny　boy；〃　he　said　with　a　hearty　slap　upon　the　boy's

back；　〃keep　yer　head　shut　ef　yer　wanter！　　Only　ef　anybody　else

comes　bummin'　round　ye；　like　this；　jest　turn　him　over　TO　ME；　and

I'll　lift　him　outer　his　boots！〃



Jake　kept　his　word；　and　h